Isha Ambani Turns Fashion History in the Iconic 1996 Chanel Couture Once Worn by Lady Gaga

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A ₹31.5 lakh gold pantsuit. Three decades of couture history. And one very considered styling decision.

When Isha Ambani stepped out head-to-toe in molten gold recently, the image stopped fashion accounts mid-scroll. But the real story was not the colour, or even the silhouette. It was the history stitched into every inch of the fabric, a piece that had passed through some of the world's most photographed wardrobes before landing, impeccably styled, on Isha Ambani.

Photo Credit: Instagram: @sweetbabyjamie

The outfit: a Fall/Winter 1996 Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Gold 'Lesage' Quilted Pantsuit with Gripoix Belt, priced at ₹31,56,800, sourced from luxury vintage curator Tab Vintage. Styled by Jamie Mizrahi.

The Piece and Its Famous Past

The suit is an extremely rare metallic bronze-gold brocade mock neck jacket and pantsuit set, complete with its original runway belt. It features Gripoix buttons and raised multicoloured rhinestone embellishments throughout, with embroidery created by Maison Lesage. The belt has a gold-plated base with an ornate Gripoix glass gemstone design in rich yellow, purple, green, blue, and red.

The piece was seen on the runway, featured in a Karl Lagerfeld-photographed ad campaign on Stella Tennant, worn by Linda Evangelista, and featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's archives. Lady Gaga also famously wore the same Chanel Fall 1996 gold brocade Lesage-embroidered jacket on New Year's Eve 2011 in New York City. Isha Ambani has now written its newest chapter.

The Craft Behind It

The embroiderers of Maison Lesage are guardians of a craft passed down through generations for almost 160 years - rhinestones, ribbons, beads, and cabochons creating exceptional textures that enhance the fabric and cut of Chanel garments. Lagerfeld began his long working relationship with Maison Lesage when he took over at Chanel in 1983, eventually leading Chanel to acquire the atelier in 2002 through its subsidiary Paraffection. The Gripoix belt - Chanel's legendary poured-glass jewellery atelier - is the look's other icon: a multi-coloured gemstone clasp that functions less as an accessory and more as a co-star.

The Styling

Stylist Jamie Mizrahi made a bold editorial decision: let the suit do the talking. A black Chanel suede mini pouch from the Cruise 2025/26 collection added subtle contrast. Saint Laurent SL M161 sunglasses brought a cool-girl edge. Manolo Blahnik Callasli slingback sandals kept the footwear elegant and understated. Softly blow-dried hair and luminous, minimal makeup completed the look - every choice designed to keep the 1996 archive piece exactly where it belonged: at the centre of the frame.

Bottomline

Runway, ad campaign, Linda Evangelista, Lady Gaga, the Met archives - and now Isha Ambani. This gold Chanel pantsuit has one of the most remarkable provenance stories in fashion. The ₹31.5 lakh price tag makes headlines. The history behind it is the real story.